Published: Mar 12, 2017, 04:58 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 12, 2017, 05:02 PM (IST)
The first match of the quarter-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2016-17 saw Baroda take on Karnataka at the Feroz Shah Kolta Stadium in Delhi on Sunday. Batting first, Karnataka faulted bundling out for just 233 runs. In reply, Kedar Devdhar and Krunal Pandya displayed sensible cricketing acumen in the middle, guiding their side to an easy 7-wicket win, and thus helping their team qualify for the semi-finals. Openers Aditya Waghmode and Devdhar provided Baroda a steady start. Waghmode, in particular, took charge and dashed his way to 28 runs before falling to Sreenath Arvind. This also ended the 65-run stand for the first wicket for Baroda.
Devdhar continued his march along with Pandya, who was promoted up the order. Pandya, in alliance with Devdhar, smacked Karnataka bowlers all around the park with ease. The pair added 92 runs for the second wicket. Devdhar was picked up by Jagadeesha Suchith for 78. His end saw Pandya take charge of the innings. Pandya, reached his fifty in 59 balls, that included 5 fours. TN’s clinical show against GUJ helps them sail into semi-finals
Deepak Hooda then played a steady hand in the 42-run partnership. Pandya, in a bid to go for the glory shot, gave a simple catch to the keeper making 70 off 79 balls. He became Aravind’s second victim. Yusuf Pathan then came out in the middle to join Hooda,who lead the onslaught in the final moments of the game that saw him remain not out on 34. Hooda and Yusuf (10) milked the bowlers with ease to steer their side to a comfortable 7-wicket win over Karnataka.
Earlier in the day, despite a solid opening stand between Robin Uthappa and Mayank Agarwal, Karnataka were bundled out for 233 runs. Batting first, Uthappa and Agarwal added 60 runs in no time before the former gave his wicket away for 24. Agarwal too fell soon, making 40 off 43 balls that included 4 fours and one six. Coming in at No.3, Ravikumar Samarth steadied a crumbling ship after the fall of Manish Pandey for 10. Samarth along with Pavan Deshpande added 87 runs for the fifth wicket. Deshpande, in particular, took charge making 59-ball 54, which included 4 fours and 2 sixes. Deshpande was soon dismissed by an excellent throw by Deepak Hooda.
Stuart Binny could not do much, as hewas stumped off Swapnil Singh for 4. Pandya struck in his first over itself, getting the well settled Samarth for 44.
Anirudha Joshi and Suchith did show some grit in the middle, but Pandya nabbed the latter for 18. Pandya got his third, after he cleaned up Joshi for 18. Sreenath Arvind’s stay lasted just 3 balls, before he was bowled by Irfan Pathan. Vinay Kumar added 10 runs before getting run out after his partner denied him a single. Thus Karnataka could only manage 233, despite good starts from most of their batsmen.
Brief score
Karnataka 233 (Panav Deshpande 54 , Ravikumar Samarth 44; Krunal Pandya 3 for 32) lost to Baroda 234 for 3 (Kedar Devdhar 78, Krunal Pandya 70; Sreenath Arvind 2 for 42) by 7 wickets
